Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair testing is recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair acts as a timeline of alcohol and drug use by capturing biomarkers within the strands of hair as they grow. If sourced from near the scalp, hair can offer a detection period of approximately up to 3 months for alcohol and drugs. It is easy to collect, challenging to tamper with, and convenient to transport.
A 1.5-inch section of roughly 200 hair strands (comparable to a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp yields 100mg of hair, which is optimal for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, or multiple panel tests above 10, a sample of 150mg is advisable. Using a jeweler’s scale to weigh the sample is suggested. In the absence of scalp hair, a similar quantity of body hair can be used. When discussing head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair pertains to any other kind (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The drug test result processing in a laboratory entails four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning entails the initial sample integration into the lab’s system. This involves ensuring the sample was properly sealed and transported, assigning an arbitrary LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any missing data entry not already covered by an electronic chain of custody system.
Screening consists of a preliminary swift examination for substances of abuse. Screening serves as a cost-efficient method to discount drug usage in most samples, yet for legal admissibility, a positive result requires confirmation. Samples with presumptive positives in Screening necessitate a secondary confirmation.
If a sample indicates a presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair from the initial specimen is extracted and prepared for further analysis. This involves drug extraction from hair at notably lower concentrations than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which highlights the complexity of hair drug screening.
Confirmation for any positive Screening outcome is achieved through GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. Every presumptive positive sample undergoes washing before confirmation, as required. The entire lab process, from Accessioning to Confirmation, is audited under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the ISO / IEC 17025 standard accreditation.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although referred to as "hair follicle tests", the analysis targets the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Leadington, MO offers considerable advantages over conventional urine tests. With superior detection accuracy, hair tests are more reliable, providing in-depth insights into substance use. This method's capability to identify drugs over an extended duration makes it the preferred choice for many.
In Leadington, MO, hair follicle testing allows drug use detection over a considerably extended period, up to 90 days. This feature offers employers comprehensive insights into an individual’s substance use history, aiding in making informed hiring or continued employment decisions.
Hair follicle testing in Leadington, MO is designed to significantly mitigate the risk of sample tampering. The nature of this testing method ensures that the results are reliable and beyond dispute, offering greater confidence in the accuracy of the outcomes.
With extensive nationwide testing facilities, including in Leadington, MO, our centers provide quick and hassle-free access to testing services. This convenience ensures that clients can easily arrange for necessary tests without significant delays.
In Leadington, MO, our process for hair follicle testing is both simple and confidential. From ordering to testing and receiving results, every step prioritizes privacy and user-friendliness, addressing all privacy and ease-of-use concerns efficiently.
Offered in Leadington, MO, our hair follicle testing features competitive pricing and swift turnaround times, delivering excellent value. This makes it accessible for organizations of all sizes, ensuring both affordability and peace of mind.
The precision and speed of hair follicle drug tests in Leadington, MO are unparalleled. They stand out for their exceptional accuracy in identifying substance use. This testing method ensures that results are not only timely but also dependable, facilitating swift decision-making for employers and individuals alike.
Employers in Leadington, MO can enjoy increased compliance and peace of mind with hair follicle testing. This method aids in adhering to drug-free workplace policies, reducing legal vulnerabilities, and fostering a safer work environment.
